Dental hygiene item

ABSTRACT

A toothbrush ( 10 ) including a handle ( 11 ) to which there is attached a toothbrush head ( 12 ). The handle ( 11 ) includes a hollow body ( 15 ) and opposite longitudinal ends ( 17, 18 ). An attachment portion ( 27 ) of the toothbrush head ( 12 ) engages an attachment portion ( 28 ) of the handle ( 11 ) so as to be secured thereto.

FIELD

The present invention relates to dental hygiene items and moreparticularly but not exclusively to dental hygiene items such asbrushes, including tooth brushes, floss items and interdental brushes.

BACKGROUND

Most oral hygiene appliances require the use of a manually claspablehandle. Such handle can be further defined as of the manual, nonelectric variety, wherein the user provides muscle power creating ascrubbing action which transmits through to the working end of thedevice. Alternatively, the handle can be powered electrically andengineered to create subsonic, sonic or ultrasonic vibrations in thedevice, or it can provide a mechanised scrubbing action in the device bymeans of small electric motors, driveshafts and appropriate gearing. Allhandles that provide either a macro mechanical or a micro-mechanicalscrubbing action, whether it be via driveshafts and gearboxes or viasonically induced vibrations or simple mechanically generatedvibrations, or sonic or ultrasonic or subsonic vibrations or movementsinduced by an eccentric weight on a rotating electric motor shaft shallhereafter be referred to as electric handles.

In order to conserve plastic and provide greater economy to the user,some manufacturers have developed replaceable heads for manualtoothbrushes so that the full handle is not thrown away when the brushhead is worn out. In a similar vein, others have developed replaceableflossing devices similar to the replaceable brush head concept, where aplastic fork is, overmoulded over a section of floss, and this plasticdevice is fitted onto a handle, which can be manual or electric, inorder to make flossing easier Whilst it is comparatively unusual to seea manual brush with a replaceable head, nearly all electric brushhandles have replaceable heads as it would be economically andenvironmentally unsustainable to throw away the whole electric apparatuswhen the brush was worn out.

Many manufacturers have developed extension handles for interdentalbrushes. Such brushes fall into three types—1) those which arethemselves equipped with usable mini or small handles usuallyovermoulded or glued or welded to the twisted wire, 2) those with smallplastic retention devices which attach to a corresponding receptacle ina larger handle, or 3) those that have a simple twisted wire brush withno inbuilt mini handle or retention device, where such wire directlyclips into or attaches to a large toothbrush like handle that has beenspecifically designed to accept plain interdental brush twisted wireheads, thus saving the cost of overmoulding a handle, or the waste ofthrowing away the plastic handle every time an interdental brush isused.

Many manufacturers have produced stain removal devices which have theirown unique handle, and which is permanently attached to and thrown awaywith the device head when only the device head is worn out. This is awaste of the plastic handle, and a waste of plastic, which is usuallyderived from oil, a resource that has both a limited future availabilityand likely substantial future cost increase, and should be conservedwhere possible and reasonable. Similarly, many manufacturers haveproduced denture brushes, which have their own unique (large) handle andwhich is permanently attached to and thrown away with the device head.Similarly, many manufacturers have produced so-called single tuft brushheads, which often actually may consist of a series of small tuftsfocused into a tip to give higher cleaning power to specialised areaswhich also have a permanently attached handle. Similarly, manymanufacturers have produced tongue scrapers that have integrallyattached handles.

The different devices used at the oral interface have vastly differentrequirements in terms of their orientation, fixation requirements, crosssectional strength and forces applied to the handle and through theconnector. For example, most floss items and interdental brushes havelow force requirements and therefore a simple mini handle stem willsuffice, which simple mini handle stem enables the device to be used onits own without a conventional toothbrush sized extension handle.

This is in contrast to devices such as a toothbrush that must have asubstantial handle so that it is comfortable, durable and strong enoughto transmit the forces required when using such a toothbrush, or asingle tuft brush, a denture brush, or even possibly a stain remover.

In addition to the above, some of the devices that are inserted into theinside of any proposed brush handle connector will provide substantialrotational forces on the connector, which must be resisted so that theproduct can be used successfully without long axis or rotationalslippage. An example of this would be an over moulded flossing devicewhere the floss runs parallel with the handle but is offset. Thereforethe force on the floss provides a torqueing action on the handle. Thisforce goes through the connection device to the handle, and must beresisted at the connection point.

The current invention seeks to resist this force but still allow 8degrees of rotational freedom so that it can be set in whatever positionthe operator finds most desirable.

Most electric brush handles have male projections as an attachmentapparatus and as a drive shaft which will allow for removable heads tobe placed over them, however, these projections and the surface theyform when they enter into the handle body make the entire apparatuscompletely unsuitable for use in the mouth without a brush fitted. Thereason for this is these handles are designed to be used only with abrush head attached in position in order to smooth over the grosssurface irregularities and to form a continuous smooth contour betweenthe handle and the brush head. The profile created by the large ledgewhere the male projection enters into the body of the handle iscompletely unsuitable for rubbing across the lip or internal aspect ofthe cheek without a brush head on the handle because it is usuallydesigned with sharp angular edges between offset surfaces to facilitatea tight butt joint when the head is placed on the handle, rather than asmooth S shaped transition between offset surfaces, which requires amore difficult to mould and manufacture knife edge finish on the edge ofany head device to get a smooth finished transition between the head andthe handle. These conventional prior handles are not designed foruniversal use with AND without a brush head, because they are notdesigned with smooth surfaces and contoured transitional angles tofacilitate intra oral use without a brush head (or similar external headdevice such as a flosser) placed over the drive shaft/attachmentapparatus. They also often have additional large external irritatingprojections on the projection shaft designed to create undercuts orretentive features to engage and retain the brush head with a snap onaction, which, if used or rubbed in the mouth would cause irritation toor trauma to the lip or internal aspect of the cheek. Because they arenot intended to be used without the brush head on the shaft to coverthem, these retentive features can be highly irritating to intra oraluse.

Object

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantiallyameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.

SUMMARY

There is firstly disclosed herein a handle of a dental hygiene item, theitem including:

a handle having a longitudinal axis, and opposite first and secondlongitudinal end portions;

the second end portion including an engagement portion to releaseablyengage a head that is to be fixed to the second end portion so that viamanipulation of the handle the head can be manipulated by a user toengage the user's teeth, internal mouth surfaces or tongue; and wherein

the second end portion includes a first longitudinal length and a secondlongitudinal length, the second longitudinal length tapering towards anend extremity, with the first length having a longitudinally extendingexternal surface and the second length have a longitudinally extendingexternal surface, with the surfaces being joined by a transitionsurface, the transition surface being tangential to the first surfaceand tangential to the second surface, with the second surface spacedoutwardly from the first surface by no more than 3 mm relative to saidaxis at the transition surface.

Preferably, the two external surfaces are circular in transversecross-section.

Preferably, the transition surface is joined to the first surface by afirst radius, and the transition surface is joined to the second surfaceby a second radius, wherein the first radius is larger than the secondradius.

Preferably, the first radius is between 9 mm and 10 mm.

Preferably, the first radius is about 9.7 mm.

Preferably, the second radius is between 5 mm and 6 mm.

Preferably, the second radius is about 5.2 mm.

There is further disclosed herein a dental hygiene item, said itemincluding:

a handle having a longitudinal axis, and opposite first and secondlongitudinally opposite end portions;

a head that is to engage a user's teeth, internal mouth surfaces ortongue, the head being fixed to the second end portion; and wherein

said handle includes a bulbous portion adjacent said first end portion,the bulbous portion tapering to said first end portion and towards saidsecond end portion.

Preferably, said handle is hollow and includes an end cap at said firstend portion that is removable to enable items to be located internallyand stored in said handle.

Preferably, said head is removably attached to said handle.

Preferably, said handle has an external surface, and said head has anexternal surface, with the handle surface being aligned with the headsurface so as to provide a smooth transition between the two surfaces.

Preferably, said handle has a longitudinal length that is greater thanthe longitudinal length of said head.

There is further disclosed herein a dental hygiene item including:

a handle to be gripped in a user's hand, the handle having a body with alongitudinal axis and a longitudinal end portion;

a tooth, internal mouth surfaces or tongue engaging head removablyattached to the end portion; and

attachment portions to secure the handle to the head, the attachmentportions including an annular flange surrounding a passage, and aprojection to extend inwardly of the passage to engage internally of theflange so that upon longitudinal relative movement between the handleand head towards each other, the projection enters the passage to engagethe flange.

Preferably, the head includes said annular flange, and the handleincludes said projection.

In one preferred form, the attachment portions include a shaftprojecting inwardly of the passage, and the handle projection includesan internal projection passage within which the shaft is received whenthe attachment portions are engaged.

Preferably, said shaft tapers towards an end extremity.

Preferably, the head passage tapers inwardly from an end opening of thepassage.

Preferably, the attachment portions include a plurality of recesses anda plurality of raised portions, the raised portions being engaged in therecesses to secure the handle to the head.

Preferably, the recesses are in said projection, and the raised portionsattached to the flange and projecting inwardly relative to said passageto engage the recesses.

Preferably, the raised portions engage in the recess by resilientdeformation of the flange and/or projection.

Preferably, the recesses extend angularly and longitudinally relative tosaid axis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way ofexample with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic isometric view of a toothbrush including a handleand an attachable brush head;

FIG. 2 is a schematic isometric view of the toothbrush of FIG. 1 withthe handle and toothbrush head detached;

FIG. 3 is a schematic isometric view of end portions of the handle andhead as illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic parts sectioned isometric view of the toothbrushof FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic isometric view of an end portion of the handleshown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a schematic side elevation of the end portion of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of the end portion asshown in FIG. 6 sectioned along the line 7-7;

FIG. 8 is a schematic side elevation of a number of modifications of thetoothbrush of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 are schematic side elevations of modifications of the handle ofthe toothbrush of FIG. 1, with different heads applied;

FIG. 10 are schematic side elevations of different heads that may beapplied to the handle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a schematic isometric view of a modification of the handleand head of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a schematic isometric view of the handle and head of FIG. 11partly sectioned;

FIG. 13 is a schematic isometric view of a floss head;

FIG. 14 is a parts sectioned isometric view of the head of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a schematic isometric view of the head of FIG. 13 with an endcap;

FIG. 16 is a schematic isometric view of the head and end cap of FIG. 15partly dismantled;

FIG. 17 is a schematic isometric view of the end cap of FIGS. 15 and 16;and

FIG. 18 is a schematic side elevation of the end extremity of the handleof FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 19 is a schematic isometric view of a further attachment to thoseshown in FIGS. 8 to 10;

FIG. 20 is a schematic side elevation of a modification of a further endportion of a handle;

FIG. 21 is a schematic isometric view of the end portion of FIG. 20; and

FIG. 22 is a schematic parts exploded isometric view of a modificationof the brush head as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 23 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of the brush headportion of FIG. 22; and

FIG. 24 is a schematic isometric view of an insert of the brush headportion of FIG. 22.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1 there is schematically depicted a dental hygiene item. In thisparticular embodiment the item is a toothbrush 10. The toothbrush 10includes a handle 11 to which there is removably attached a toothbrushhead 12. In this particular embodiment, the toothbrush handle 11 isprovided with an electric motor 13 that receives (via a switch) currentfrom one or more batteries 14. Upon actuation of a switch (notillustrated) the motor 13 is energised to cause the toothbrush 10 tovibrate. However it should be appreciated the toothbrush 10 may also bemanually operated and not include a vibration source such as a motor, ora power storage or drive system.

The handle 11 includes a hollow body 15 that has a longitudinal axis 16and opposite longitudinal end portions 17 and 18. The body 15 is bulbousand is designed to be gripped in the hand of a user. The body 15 isbulbous so as to have a bulbous portion at the end portion 18 and hollowin manual versions so that it has improved hand grip, and providesstorage internally for oral care accessory items such as flosspicksand/or interdental brushes. Access to the interior of the body 15 is viaremoval of an end cap providing the end portion 17. The handle 11 isalso hollow so as to avoid the weight and cost of solid plastic and/orrubber/elastomer.

The brush head 12 includes a generally flat base 19 to which there isfixed a plurality of bristles 20. Integrally formed or attached to thebase 19 is a stem 21.

The stem 21 provides an attachment portion 27 that engages theattachment portion 28 of the handle 11 to securely attach the head 12 tothe handle 11.

In FIG. 2 the attachment portion 27 includes an annular flange 29 thatsurrounds a passage that extends longitudinally inwardly from an endopening 23. In FIG. 3 the passage 22 is surrounded by an internalsurface 24 of the flange 29.

Extending longitudinally of the passage 22 from a mounting 26 is a shaft25. The shaft 25 extends longitudinally towards the end opening 23. Theshaft 25 is spaced from the surface 24 so that there is a space betweenthe shaft 25 and the surface 24. The surface 24 is also provided with aplurality of projections 30.

In FIG. 3, the attachment portion 28 includes an annular projection 31fixed to or formed integrally with the end portion 18. In FIG. 7, theprojection 31 surrounds a passage 32 that extends longitudinallyinwardly from an end opening 33. The passage 32 tapers inwardly so as tohave its smallest diameter spaced inwardly from the opening 33. There isa small portion 34 at the entrance of the passage 32 that has a largercross sectional surface area than the area immediately internal from it,so as to allow the shaft 26 greater bending strength in this region.

The external surface 36 of the projection 31 includes a plurality ofrecesses (depressions) 37 within which the projections (raised portions)30 in FIG. 3 engage. This engagement is by resilient deformation of theprojection 30 and the flange 29 to provide for movement of theprojections 30 into the recesses 37.

The shaft 25 may have a plurality of longitudinally extending ridges 38that are separated by longitudinally extending slots, in order toinhibit angular relative movement between the handle 11 and head 12. Thepassage 32 in FIG. 7 has longitudinally extending ridges 35 alsoseparated by slots. The ridges 38 and associated slots mate with theridges 35 and associated slots, so that the shaft 25 securely engageswithin the passage 34. If so required, the shaft 25 may also taper so asto have the smallest diameter at its longitudinal end extremity toenhance frictional engagement of the ridges 35 and 38.

The engagement of the shaft 25 in the passage 32, and engagement betweenthe external surface 36 of the projection 31 and the internal surface 24of the flange 29 provides for a secure connection between the handle 11and the head 12.

FIG. 8 shows a number of modifications of the handle 11. However thehandle 11 includes a bulbous portion 39 located between the end portions17 and 18.

In FIG. 9, the handle 11 is again illustrated as having variousconfigurations. Also in FIG. 9, the handle 11 is engaged with differentheads. For example, one head is a toothbrush, the second head is aninterdental brush, and the third head a floss item.

In FIGS. 11 and 12 there is schematically depicted a modification of thehandle 11 and head 12.

In this embodiment the shaft 25 has been eliminated and the attachmentprojections reversed.

In this embodiment the attachment portion 27 includes an annular flange39 that has an internal surface 40 surrounding a passage 41. The surface40 is provided with a plurality of recesses 42 that include a guideportion 43 and a base portion 44. The handle attachment portion 28includes a projection 45 that tapers towards an end extremity 46 tomatch a similar taper on the passage 41. The external surface 47 of theprojection 45 has a plurality of projections or raised portions 48 thatare engaged by the guide portions 43 for engagement in the base portions44. To enable this to happen, the attachment portion 27 and/orattachment portion 28 is resiliently deformed. Accordingly the raisedportions 48 are “snap engaged” in the base portions 44 to secure thehandle 11 to the head 12.

It should be appreciated the head 12 may be anyone of the heads of FIG.8, 9 or 10, as well as the head 49 of FIGS. 13 and 14.

In FIGS. 13 and 17, there is schematically depicted a head 49 to beremovably attached to the handle 11. The head 49 is a floss item, andincludes a base 50 from which there extends a pair of arms 51. Fixed tothe end portions of the arms 51 is a length of dental floss 52 that maybe under tension. In this embodiment, the annular flange 39 has itsinternal surface 40 provided with a plurality of projections or raisedportions 53. Accordingly the portion 28 would need to have correspondingrecesses at the locations to receive the raised portions 48. In thatregard it should be appreciated the raised portions 43 could be replacedwith recesses to engage the raised portions 48 of the embodiment of FIG.11.

In the above embodiments, the raised portions (projections) may beincluded in the handle or head, and the recess in the other handle orhead. Also, by moving the head and handle longitudinally towards eachother causes engagement of the portions 27 and 28.

The passage 41 can be closed by end cap 54. The end cap 54 includes abase 55 that is slightly enlarged and is intended to be gripped by auser. The base 55 can include ridges 56 that aid gripping so that theend cap 54 may be moved axially relative to the axis 16.

Extending from and of smaller diameter than the base 55, is theattachment portion 28 which is as described previously.

When the head 49 is being used manually the end cap 54 is inserted inthe passage 41 so as to be frictionally retained therein. When the head49 is to be attached to the handle 11, the end cap 54 is removed and theattachment portion 28 of the handle 11 inserted in the head 49 so as tosecurely engage the head 49.

The end portion 18 includes a first longitudinally extending portion 57joined to a second longitudinally extending portion 58 by a transitionportion 59. The portion 57 includes an external surface 60 that iscircular in transverse cross-section and is preferably diminishing indiameter towards the transition portion 59. The second portion 58extends from the transition portion 59 so as to taper away from thetransition portion 59. The portions 57 are 58 and also generallycircular in transverse cross-section. At the transition portion 59, theportion 57 is spaced outwardly from the axis further than the portion 58by no more than 3 mm relative to the axis 16, preferably no more than 2mm. Accordingly when the portions 57 and 58 are circular in transversecross-section, and the portion 59 circular in transverse cross-section,the portion 57 has a radius no more than 3 mm greater than the portion58 at the position where they meet the transition portion 59. Morepreferably, the radial difference is no more than 2 mm.

The transition portion 59 has an external surface 61 and the portion 58an external surface 62. The surfaces 61 and 62 are generally circular intransverse cross-section.

The surface 61 is an ‘S’ shaped surface and is joined to the surface 60so as to be tangential thereto, while the surface 61 is joined to thesurface 62 so as to tangential with respect thereto.

Preferably, the surface 61 has a radius 63 extending to the surface 60,while the surface 62 has a radius 64 joining the radius 63 so as toagain be tangential. The surfaces 60, 61 and 62 provide a smoothtransition from the surface 60 to the surface 6.

Preferably, the radius 63 is larger than the radius 64.

Preferably, the radius 63 is 9 mm to 10 mm, most preferably about 9.7mm. Preferably, the radius 64 is between 5 mm and 6 mm, and morepreferably about 5.2 mm. Preferably, the centres of the radiuses 63 and64 are spaced by 5 mm to 6 mm along the axis 16 and are preferablyspaced by a distance of 5.65 mm on the axis 16.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 20 and 21, the attachment portion 28 includesthe projection 31 having an end opening 33 as in the previousembodiments. However in this embodiment, the recesses (depressions) 37extend angularly about the axis 16. Accordingly the projections 30 ofthe previous embodiments would move generally axially along the channels70 to enter the recesses 37, with angular movement of the head 12 thencausing the projections 30 to move angularly along the depressions 37about the axis 16.

In FIG. 19 a further head 71 is illustrated. In this embodiment, thehead 71 is a “tongue scraper” and includes an end portion 72 that isprovided with a plurality of ridges 73 that are moved into engagementwith and along the surface of the user's tongue.

In FIGS. 22, 23 and 24 there is schematically depicted a modification ofthe stem 21 of the brush head 12. In this embodiment the stem 21includes a hollow outer shell 80 that surrounds the passage 22. Theshell has at least two apertures 81 extending through the shell 80 andon opposite sides of the shell 80. Located internally of the shell 80,that is projecting internally of the passage 22 is an insert 82. Theinsert 82 provides the projections 30 described with reference to FIG.3. The insert 80 includes a generally circular base 83 with a pair ofaxially extending arms 84 that snap engage in the recesses 81 tosecurely locate the insert 80 internally of the shell 80. Theprojections 30 then project inwardly relative to the longitudinal axis16. This construction aids in the manufacture of the stem 21.

1. A handle of a dental hygiene item, the handle including: alongitudinal axis, and opposite first and second longitudinal endportions; the second end portion including an engagement portion toreleaseably engage a head that is to be fixed to the second end portionso that via manipulation of the handle the head can be manipulated by auser to engage the user's teeth, internal mouth surfaces or tongue; andwherein the second end portion includes a first longitudinal length anda second longitudinal length, the second longitudinal length taperingtowards an end extremity, with the first length having a longitudinallyextending external surface and the second length have a longitudinallyextending external surface, with the surfaces being joined by atransition surface, the transition surface being tangential to the firstsurface and tangential to the second surface, with the second surfacespaced outwardly from the first surface by no more than 3 mm relative tosaid axis at the transition surface.
 2. The handle of claim 1, whereinthe two external surfaces are circular in transverse cross-section. 3.The handle of claim 1, wherein the transition surface is joined to thefirst surface by a first radius, and the transition surface is joined tothe second surface by a second radius, wherein the first radius islarger than the second radius.
 4. The handle of claim 3, wherein thefirst radius is between 9 mm and 10 mm.
 5. The handle of claim 4,wherein the first radius is about 9.7 mm.
 6. The handle of claim 3,wherein the second radius is between 5 mm and 6 mm.
 7. The handle ofclaim 6, wherein the second radius is about 5.2 mm.
 8. A dental hygieneitem, said item including: a handle having a longitudinal axis, andopposite first and second longitudinally opposite end portions; a headthat is to engage a user's teeth, internal mouth surfaces or tongue, thehead being fixed to the second end portion; and wherein said handleincludes a bulbous portion adjacent said first end portion, the bulbousportion tapering to said first end portion and towards said second endportion.
 9. The item of claim 8, wherein said handle is hollow andincludes an end cap at said first end portion that is removable toenable items to be located internally and stored in said handle.
 10. Theitem of claim 8 or 9, wherein said head is removably attached to saidhandle.
 11. The item of claim 8, wherein said handle has an externalsurface, and said head has an external surface, with the handle surfacebeing aligned with the head surface so as to provide a smooth transitionbetween the two surfaces.
 12. The item of claim 8, wherein said handlehas a longitudinal length that is greater than the longitudinal lengthof said head.
 13. A dental hygiene item including: a handle to begripped in a user's hand, the handle having a body with a longitudinalaxis and a longitudinal end portion; a tooth, internal mouth surfaces ortongue engaging head removably attached to the end portion; andattachment portions to secure the handle to the head, the attachmentportions including an annular flange surrounding a passage, and aprojection to extend inwardly of the passage to engage internally of theflange so that upon longitudinal relative movement between the handleand head towards each other, the projection enters the passage to engagethe flange.
 14. The item of claim 13, wherein the head includes saidannular flange, and the handle includes said projection.
 15. The item ofclaim 13, wherein the attachment portions include a shaft projectinginwardly of the passage, and the handle projection includes an internalprojection passage within which the shaft is received when theattachment portions are engaged.
 16. The item of claim 15, wherein saidshaft tapers towards an end extremity.
 17. The item of claim 13, whereinthe head passage tapers inwardly from an end opening of the passage. 18.The item of claim 13, wherein the attachment portions include aplurality of recesses and a plurality of raised portions, the raisedportions being engaged in the recesses to secure the handle to the head.19. The item of claim 18, wherein the recesses are in said projection,and the raised portions attached to the flange and projecting inwardlyrelative to said passage to engage the recesses.
 20. The item of claim18, wherein the raised portions engage in the recess by resilientdeformation of the flange and/or projection, and the recesses extendangularly and longitudinally relative to said axis.
 21. (canceled)